TikTok convinced me to buy a flamethrower.πŸ”₯
I had gone my entire life without once thinking I really should own a flamethrower.
Like most people, I had a few random items sitting in my cart.
A gadget. Clothing. Something for the backyard.
The usual online shopping purgatory.

Then came the flamethrower.

Video after video appeared in my feed.

Each video made the idea seem a little less ridiculous.

While other items in my cart remained a β€œmaybe.”
The flamethrower became a β€œmust-have.”

Not only did I buy the flamethrower, but I also bought everything else in my cart.

As designers, we reduce friction to make decisions easier.

We build trust through product demonstrations, reviews, testimonials, and consistent messaging.

Sometimes that means guiding someone through an important task.
Sometimes it means making a flamethrower feel like a perfectly reasonable purchase.

Maybe the TikTok algorithm simply uncovered a hidden passion for controlled fire that I didn’t know I had. πŸ€ͺ

Either way, it worked.

And that’s both impressive and slightly concerning.

What’s the most impulsive thing you’ve purchased online?

#userexperience #design #uidesign #TikTok #socialmedia #algorithm #ecommerce #backyardoffice
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